Automatic fire extinguishing and alarm apparatus



2 Sheets-Sheet. 1.

(No Model.)

. H. B. DUNHAM. AUTOMATIG FIEE 'EXTINGUISHING AND ALARM APPARATUS. No. 538,016.-

Patented Apr. 23, 1895.

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2 sneets-shet 2.

(No Model;)

- H; B. DUNHA-M. 'AUTOMATIC FIBE EXTINGUISHING AND ALARM APPARATUS. No. 538,01.6.

Patented Apr. 23, 18955 `9.%.

i 'UNITED' STATES' PATENT OFFICE.

HUMPHREY BLODGET DUNHAM, OFNEWARK, NEW J ERSEY.

AUTOM ATIC Fl RE EXTNGUISHING AND ALARM APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Lettersl-"atent No. .538,016, dated April 23, 1895. J

Application filed January 13, 1894. Serial No. 49637788. (No model.)

To all whom, it may camera.-

Be it known thatrI, HUMPHREY BLODGET DUNHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county .of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Fire Extinguishing and Alarm Apparatus, which improvements are fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a sectional, side view of a building fitted with my improved apparatus. Fig. 2-is a plan view showing disposition of a series of horizontal delivery pipes. Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of an improved form of sprinkler which I employ. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of same, the section being taken on the line :r -w of Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a plan view of said sprinkler. Fig..6 isa central longitudinal section of sprinkler plunger, showing openings therein.

Similar reference-letters denote like parts in the difierent views.

This invention relates generally to that class of apparatus known as fire extinguishers, and particularly to an extinguisher adapted to contain a supply of fire-extinguishing liquid, under suitable air-pressure, and to duly discharge the same,.upon the surrounding atmosphere reaching a high degree of temperature, as in the event ofthe building in which the apparatus is located taking fire, and at the same instant convey, through the medium of an elecric circuit, to a distant station, as, for instance, a station' of a local fire department, a suitable notification in the nature of aii-alarm. g i

It consists in the novel formation and disposition of certain of the' parts, in certain combinations of the various parts and in certain details of construction, all of which will be fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to "provide a fire-extinguishing and alarm ap'paratus which shall contain, undersuitable air-pressure, a reasonable supply of fire-extinguishing liquid, of any approved charactenand discharge the same automatically,`through the influence ot' the surrounding atmosphere, upon the latter becoming unduly heated; which shall embrace in its constrnction one or more sprinklers adapted to act upon the apparatus being called into service, in conjunction with an electric circuit, for the purpose of conveying to a distant point a suitable notification to serve as an alarm; which. shall be simple and cheap in construction and reliable in operation, and in which the supply-reservoir shall have only one opening with the main delivery-pipe leading therefrom. To the attainment of these ends I make use of the following parts:

Having reference to the accompanying drawings, the letter A denotes a closed tank or supply-reservoir, of sheet-iron or other suitable material, and preferably located in' the basement of the building. This reservoir is preferably of one hundred gallons Capacity, and is provided with a suitable opening near the bottom thereof, from which leads the main delivery-pipe B, the latter extending vertically upward to the ceiling of the room, where it communicates through a suitable connecting pipe,d, with the horizontal delivery-pipe O, the latter being supported by the hooks D, depending from the ceiling. The-vertical delivery-pipe B may, of course, extend upward through any practicable number of rooms, and communicate with a pipe corresponding to C, in each room, as illustr'ated in the drawings; and a series of horizontal delivery-pipes,

room, if deemed advisable,-the number of these pipes which may be advantageously i used in any room, depending upon the size of the room. To simplify the description, however, I shall hereinafter refer only to pipe C.

The vertical pipe B, is provided with an ordinary plug-cock, or valve, a, having stem b, and with a like valve a', having slotted stem b At a point intermediate of the valves a, a', the vertical pipe B is provided with a nozzle c, having a cap c'. There is fixed upon the vertical pipe B, above the valve a', a common T, from which leads a branch d, (Fig. 2,) connecting at its distant end with the horizontal pipe C. The horizontal pipe C is composed of sections, each of suitable length and IOO ticularly hereinatter. A pin e passes through the slot e", in the stem b', and takes into the lower end of the rod G. The latter extends upward through a suitable opening in the floor above, and is connected to the lower branch of the bellcrank d', by means of a pin 'e', which passes throughthe slotf, and takes into the said rod at the upper end thereof. The be1l-crank d' is supported by the bracket f', Secured in any convenient nanner to the wall g, and works upon the pivot i. A suitable opening is forned through the wall g, immediately above the bracket f', and the hooked rod j' extends outward through said opening. A Imob-portion Ic, is screwed or 'otherwise fixed upon the outer end of the rod j', and the hoolz, at the inner end of said red, is adapted to engage the upper branch of the bell-crank d'. It will therefore, be seen that the withdrawal of the rod j', will cause the bell-crank to work upon its pivot so as to i'mpart an upward movement to the rod G, the effect of which will be to close the valve a'. This Construction permits the c-losing of the valve a' by a'n'attendant, whether he is in the basement, on the fioor above or outside of thebuilding, and forms an important feature of my invention.

I will now describe my improved sprinkler: The casing K may be read ily forned by casting from any suitable material, as iron. There are forned integral with the casing K at the upper end of one side thereof, two lateral lugs or ears, h, 7', between which is pivotally disposed the curved arm L; and there are also forned integral with the casing K, diametrically opposite the ears h, h', two corresponding lugs or cars, l, Z', between which is pivotally disposed the curved arm M, corresponding to L. The casing K terminates at its lower end in a threaded, slightly-tapering tap N, adapted to enter and fit snugly within the Opening a", in the coupl'ng E. A longitudinal bore c" leads centrally from the lower end ot the tap N to theinterior of the casing K, where it is surround ed by the annular rib or seat d". There is introduced within the casing K a plunger O, the lower portion of which is cut away to form an extension O' and leave an annular space between said extension and the casing K; and I secure to the 'lower end of the extension O', as by means of the screw f", a disk of suitable packing material, h", which, upon the plunger O being urged well to place in the casing K, is firmly seated upon the annular rib d, and serves to etfectually prevent the passage of air or liquid through the bore c.

Each of the arms L, M, isprovided with an oitset P, P', which offsets are adapted to come in contact with the top of the plunger O, upon the arms L, M, being swung inward upon their respective pivots, and urge said plunger firmly to place within the casing K. This result is acconplished. when the arms L, M, are brought to the position shown in Fig. 3. Each of the arms L, M, is cut away at the p full.

2 seaoie outer end thereof, as shown in Fig. 5, so that the end of one will lap upon the other; and, upon the sprinkler being required for service, the arms L, M, are brought together, as stated, and sealed by applying thereto at the junotion-point a small quantity of sensitive solder, or other scaling agent fusible ordinarily at about 100 temperature.

The plunger O is provided with a vertical spindle g', which is inserted in any convenient manner in the top of said plunger, so as i to extend upward on one side of the arms L,

M; when the latter have been closed as herein stated. The location of the spindle g', with respect to the plunger 0, is clearly shown in Fig. 5. The plunger O is also provided with a transverse opening,` communicating with a central, longitudinal opening, which openings are indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, and the upper terminus of the central opening is indicated by g" in Fig. 5.

The sprinkler herein described is applied to the pipe O, by seating the tap N in the threaded opening a", and in doing this it is advisable to use a cementing agent, of some suitable character, to make sure that the junction is air and liquid tight. All other june- .tions are preferably etected in like manner.

In using my apparatus I first close the valve i a, leaving unsealed the most distant sprinkler on the pipe C. I then remove the cap c',trom

nozzle c, and apply to the latter the deliveryhose of a suitable force-pump, by means of which I fill the upper portion ot' the vertical pipe B, and the` horizontal pipe C, with a suitable fire extinguishing liquid till the same appears at the sprin kler left unsealed. Iu practice I purpose to make use of sone approved chenical liquid which will not freeze, and which will insure, when brought in contact with fire, the generation of gases adapted to instantly destroy combustion, as by so doing the quantity of liquid delivered ncerl not be large. I then close the valve a' and seat the sprinkler last referred to. I then open the valve a, and foroe suflicient liquid into the reservoir to fill the same about two-thirds I then disconnect the force-pump hose, and connect with the nozzle c an air-pump, ot' any approved Construction, by means ot' which I introduce to the reservoir A about seventy pounds of air-pressu re, this being deemed' sufiicient under ordinary conditions. I now close the valve a, disconnect the airpump, and replace the cap c'; whereupon I open both valves a, a', and permit the airpressure to act on the entire quantity of liquid containedin the apparatus. Now, should the sprinklr F become unsealed, as by reason of the surrounding atmosphere becoming un dulyheated, the plunger Owill be forced from its seat, thusallowing the contained liquid in the apparatus to escape through the bore c", through the space intervening between the extension O' and the easing K, and through the transve'se and central openings herein- I before referred to, and be distributed over a IIO IZO

'certain area within the room; and the spindle g' will be projected against the electric button i", thereby closing the electriccircuit j", and sounding an alarm at a distant station.

The quantity of liquid and amount of airpressure herein named,.are deemed sufficient for an apparatus having a vertical deliverypipe extending through five or six floors; but in exceptionally high buildings it is my purpose to make use of an apparatus substantially identical with the one herein described, for the protection of the upper floors; and where two apparatns are used ina single building, it will be understood that the rod G may be extended upward through the several floors, and connected at its upper end, as at its lower end, to one of the cut-off valves of the upper apparatus. It will also be understood that a cable or rope may be substituted for the rod G, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The pressure-gage H, of any approved construction and applied in any ordinary way to the delivery-pipe B, as shown, serves asa detector in the event of diminution of the air-' pressure through leakage, or otherwise.

Having fully described my invention' and stated in what manner the same is to be used, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a supply-reservoir, having a single opening, of a main delivery-pipe, leading from said opening, two plug-cocks, ad jacently disposed in said main deliverypipe, a nozzle, on said main delivery-pipe, between said plug-cocks, extinguishing liquid within said delivery-pipe and partially filling said reservoir, and air, under suitable pressure, within the remaining portion of said reservoir, the said air and liquid being each introduced to said reservoir and delivery-pipe, respectively, by way of said nozzle, all substantially as described /and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a fire-extinguishing apparatus, comprising a supply-reservoir, having a single opening, and a main delivery-pipe leading from said opening, the said main deliverypipe being provided with two plug-cocks and a nozzle intermediate ot' said cocks,in combination, a secondary deliverypipe, leading from said' main delivery-pipe, a sprinkler, constructed as herein described, on said secondary delivery-pipe, extinguishing liquid, within said main and secondary deliverypipes, and partiallyfilling said reservoir, and air, under suitable pressure, within the renaining portion of said reservoir, the said air and liquid being each introduced to said reservoir and said delivery-pi pes, respectively, by way of said nozzle, all substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a fire-cxtinguishing and alarm apparatus, comprising a supply-reservoir, having a single opening, and a main delivery-pipe leading from said opening, the said main delivery-pipe being provided with two plugcocks and a nozzle intermediate of said cocks, in combination, a secondary delivery-pipe, leading from said main delivery-pipe, a sprinkler, constrncted as herein described, and adapted to be unsealed upon the surrounding atmosphere bccoming unduly heated, on said secondary delivery-pipe, an electric circuit, adapted to be closed through the action of said sprinkler, upon the latter being unsealed, as stated, extinguishing liquid, within said main and secondary deliverypipes, and partially filling saidreservoir, and air, under suitable pressure, within the remaining portion of said reservoir, the said air and liquid being each introduced to said reservoir and said delivery-pipes, respectively, by way of said nozzle, all substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.

4. A sprinkler, consisting of a casing provided at its bottom with a threaded tap having a central bore leading to the interior of said casing, a plunger within the casing, means, as the arms L, M, whereby the plunger may be snugly seated within the casing, and suitable packing service Secured to the inner end of said plunger, the latter being provided with an opening or openingsadapted to form with the bore named a continuous passage through the sprinkler, substantially as herein described.

HUMPHREY BLODGET DUNIIM. 

